As Buhari orders increase surveillance at borders
Due to the absence of government’s presence in Nigeria’s border communities, residents of such areas have pledged their allegiance to smugglers who provide employment and social amenities for them.
Consequently, they are in league with smugglers to frustrate efforts by the NCS to tackle importation of contraband into Nigeria.
Comptroller general of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) made the startling revelations yesterday at an interactive session with the house committee on customs and excise in Abuja yesterday.
He said residents of border communities feel that they owe the country no allegiance because of the absence of government presence in their communities.
He added that although the NCS had provided boreholes and clinics for the residents they still see the agency and its personnel as enemies.
“We are currently taking some steps to make sure that those who are able to smuggle rice and other prohibited items do not profit from them. That is why on an occasional basis, we carry out raids on warehouses and market stores where these illicit things are stored.
“Secondly, most of these communities do not have any feel of government. We have used our resources to sink boreholes and build clinics for them, even though there is an agency created to ensure that these people get a feel of government. These people (communities) do not feel they owe allegiance to the country.
“Our biggest problem is that these border communities gang up with smugglers to fight Customs officers. They burn our vehicles, kill our officers because they don’t have any feel of government. So, they believe that they owe allegiance to those smugglers because they give them employment,” he said.
The comptroller also stated that the long stretch and porous nature of the country’s borders make it almost impossible for the customs to operate optimally.
He said there is no NCS presence in some parts of the northeast, especially the area covering Yobe and Adamawa states.
He said the Army had requested all the para-military personnel to withdraw from the area to allow it (Army) take charge until insecurity in the zone is brought under control.
“I must say this: the borders of Nigeria are long and porous. From Badagry to Mfom, there is no way 15,536 officers will block those entrances, even if we deploy everybody in the service. During the dry season, from Seme to Mfom, it is porous and motorable and motorcycles can move freely. There is no way we can eliminate smuggling,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to increase surveillance at the nation’s borders.
The president, in his speech in Abuja during the virtual inauguration of the NIS Technology Building, said there was an urgent need to improve security around the nation’s borders so that criminals will not Nigeria a safe haven to hide and perpetrate crime.
Besides, Buhari charged the service to collaborate with international security organisations, such as the INTERPOL, in securing the borders.
“As a security agency, I charge you to be relentless in carrying out your statutory duties of keeping our borders safe while you ensure that criminal elements don’t find Nigeria as a safe haven to hide and perpetrate their criminality.
“I urge you to actively collaborate with International Security Organisations, like the INTERPOL, in safeguarding our borders. Remember that a safe border is a prerequisite for a safe Nation.
“You must develop strong working relationships and ties with the international community and friendly nations as it relates to migration management; adopt and implement workable strategies from them while also sharing your best practices.
“Frontline workers and operators should remember that they are our windows to the world. They must show the best face of Nigeria at all times,” he said.
The president also charged Nigeria’s security agencies to improve their drive towards the protection of lives and property.
“It is imperative that our ranking in the Global Security Index improves, and I am using this medium to call on all security agencies to step up their activities towards achieving this goal. I assure you that the administration will give the much needed support to you in your operations,” he said.
In his remarks, the minister of interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola said that the security challenge in the country was surmountable.
He said the weakest link had been the land borders but assured that the technology building would play a pivotal role in control of illegal migration.
The minister announced a review of the stay period from 90 days to 30 days.
He said 50 per cent of all immigration personnel will now work at the nation’s borders for optimal productivity.
In his remarks, the comptroller general of NIS, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, said the Technology Building was the best project the service had ever initiated and completed since its (service) establishment in 1958.
